Metallic burial-vault cover



(No Model.)

W. BOKELS. METALLIC BURIAL V'AULT COVER. No. 527,238.

Patented Oct. 9, 1894.

Tuo., wAsHmnToN n UNITED4 VSTATES PATENT OFFICE.

WILLIAM ECKELS, OF MEOHANIOSBURG, PENNSYLVANIA.

METALLIC BURIAL-VAU LT COVER.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 527,238, dated October 9, 1894.

Application mea Api 1894. serai No. 506,605. uro man.)

To all whom it may concern,.-

Be it known that I, WILLIAM EoKELs, a citizen of the United States, residingat Mechanicsburg, in the county of Cumberland and State of Pennsylvania, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Vaults or Tombs for Burial Purposes, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to improvements in a vault or tomb which is walled or bricked for a portion of the depth of the grave and is provided with `an arched cover thereover, said cover being adjustable both longitudinally and laterally as will be hereinafter described.

Referring to the accompanying drawings which form a part of this specification, and in which like reference letters indicate corresponding parts:-Figure 1, is a perspective view of a grave with one side and end broken away, showing the vault or tomb and its arched cover, in the bottom thereof. Fig. 2, is a plan of one section of the cover. Fig. 3, is a longitudinal central section of the plate shown in Fig. 2. Fig. 4 is a transverse section thereof.

A, represents the grave which :is of suitable depth, and which is Walled or bricked up to a point slightly above the height of the casket or coffin used.

The vault in the drawings is shown as constructed of brick as at B, there being side and end walls, and the inner portion or chamber of the vault or tomb is of a size adapted to receive the casket or coffin, or an exterior rough box or case to contain the same. The cover comprises a series of convexo concave plates or sections C. Each of these sections is constructed with a wide Iiange c, at one end for a purpose which will be `presently explained. These Iianges partake of the convexo concave, or arched form of the plates, and each plate or section is also provided with side or longitudinal lianges, o. The side flanges, c', are about the Width of the thickness of the Wall and project laterally, or in a horizontal direction, from each sideof the arch of the plates or` sections C, and are adapted to rest on the side Walls of the vault or tomb, as shown in Fig. l. In the side flanges, at intervals are slots, c2, which are arranged to engage with keys, pins or projections set in the tops of the side walls, and provide for lat-eral adjustment, to adapt the arched cover for a wider or narrower vault or tomb. Supplemental slotted plates may be arranged underneath ilanges c', for wider adjustment. On the top of the arch sections, at each side, is arranged a lseries of hooks or other suitable devices, c3, with which a rope or strap may be engaged for lowering the plates into position, or for lifting them. The under sides of the plates or sections are provided with depending lugs or arms, c4, Well shown in Figs. 3 and 4, which engage with the inner portions of the side walls of the vault or tomb, and hold the yarch plates or sections iirmly in place. The wide, transverse anges on the arch plates or sections, are for the purpose of longitudinal adjustment, and to prevent water, moisture or other substances from getting into the vault or tomb. The end walls may be made convex on top, to correspond with the concave under sides of the arch plates, or the outer ends of the plates at the head and foot of the vault, may have depending flanges, to rest on the end walls. As many arch sections or plates as necessary may be used; dependent somewhat on the size of the vault, and these plates are constructed of any suitable metal or other material adapted for the purpose.

The manner of using my invention is as follows, viz: The grave having been dug, it is bricked or walled up with any suitable material, a little more than the height of the casket or coliin or its exterior case, forming a vault or tomb about the size of the casket. At burial, after the casket, either with or without an exterior case, is in place in the vault, the arch plates are lowered into position, with the ange of one plate or section overlapping the free end of the next adjacent one, to provide for adjustment lengthwise of the grave, and the slots in the side ianges, provide for independent lateral adjustment, and the plates are thus adjusted laterally and longitudinally to fit and cover the top of the vault snugly. The whole top of the vault or tomb may then be properly sealed.

The advantages of my invention will be readily apparent. All wet, moisture, te., are excluded. The vault cannot be tampered with or its contents disturbed. The earth above is supported by the arch, so that the top of IOO transverse flanges, conforming to the curve in the plates, said plates also having side i 5 flanges with transverse slots across the same in each plate or section and at both sides thereof, and means on the plates for lowering or ,lifting the same, substantially as described.

In'tes'timony whereof I affix my signature in zo presence of two Witnesses.

` WILLIAM ECKELS. Witnesses:

G. MORRIS EcKELs, H. H. MERCER. y 

